How much does it cost?

From £8,760 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $11,833 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Which trains are included?

Great Rail Journeys includes four days aboard Rocky Mountaineer: the Rainforest to Gold Rush route (Days 2, 3 and 4 from Vancouver to Whistler, Pemberton to Quesnel, and Quesnel to Jasper) and the First Passage to the West route (Days 10 and 11 from Banff to Kamloops and Kamloops to Vancouver). All train travel is in Gold Leaf class.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

This is an independent tour. You make your own way during free days in Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. Some days include group excursions such as the Jasper National Park tour and the Icefields Parkway journey.

Hotels include the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver (2 nights), a 4-star property in Whistler (1 night), a 3-star hotel in Quesnel (1 night), Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (2 nights), Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (2 nights), and in Banff either the Moose Hotel & Suites or the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (2 nights), plus a hotel in Kamloops (1 night).

When does this tour run?

The tour runs May through September, with the Icefields Parkway excursion and Ice Explorer available from mid-May departures onwards.

Great Rail Journeys · Independent rail holiday

Rocky Mountaineer: Grand Tour of the Rockies

Two Rocky Mountaineer routes through Canadian Rockies from Vancouver to Kamloops

Great Rail Journeys operates this 13-day independent tour of Canada's western mountains, departing from London Heathrow and returning after exploring Vancouver, the Canadian Rockies and the mountain towns of Whistler, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. You will spend four days aboard Rocky Mountaineer in Gold Leaf class across two routes: the Rainforest to Gold Rush route from Vancouver through Whistler and Quesnel to Jasper, and the First Passage to the West route from Banff back through Kamloops to Vancouver. The itinerary balances rail travel with free time in each mountain town. Day 2 takes you north along the Sea to Sky Corridor with views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains. Days 5 and 7 offer leisure time in Jasper and Lake Louise for hiking, gondola rides and exploration. Day 6 travels the Icefields Parkway, stopping for an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier and a walk across the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk. Day 8 passes through Yoho National Park. Day 10 crosses the Continental Divide near the historic Spiral Tunnels and stops at Craigellachie.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £8,760 every time.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield excursion operate from mid-May departures onwards only; confirm your departure date includes this activity.
Hotel options vary by location: Whistler is listed as a 4-star property (unspecified), Quesnel as 3-star (unspecified), and Banff offers a choice between Moose Hotel & Suites or the five-star Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel; final accommodation depends on your tier and booking.
Day 8 checkout from Lake Louise is 12 noon with departure around 2pm; luggage is stored after checkout.
Meals are bed and breakfast basis in hotels; dinners and lunches are at your own cost except for breakfasts on board the Rocky Mountaineer.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Vancouver
Arrival in Vancouver
A flight from London Heathrow to Vancouver, checking in to your hotel the same day with time to explore, perhaps Gastown, Stanley Park or Granville Island.
Day 2overnight: Whistler
From sea to sky on Rocky Mountaineer
You board Rocky Mountaineer for the Sea to Sky Corridor route, passing Howe Sound, Brandywine Falls, Mount Garibaldi and Cheakamus Canyon, arriving in Whistler in the afternoon with the rest of the day free. Overnight is in a 4-star hotel in Whistler.
Day 3overnight: Quesnel
Gold rush town of Quesnel
A coach transfer to Pemberton station to board Rocky Mountaineer through the Pemberton Valley, Fraser Canyon and Cariboo Plateau, passing Anderson Lake, Seton Lake and the Deep Creek trestle bridge, ending in Quesnel. Overnight is in a 3-star hotel in Quesnel.
Day 4overnight: Jasper
Past Mount Robson to Jasper
Rocky Mountaineer continues north along the Fraser River to Prince George then east past Mount Robson to Jasper, with the evening free to explore the town.
Day 5overnight: Jasper
Admiring Jasper National Park
A free morning in Jasper, followed by a half-day sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park including Patricia Lake, Pyramid Lake and the Jasper SkyTram.
Day 6overnight: Lake Louise
Marvelling at the Athabasca Glacier
A journey along the Icefields Parkway viewing Athabasca Falls, with an Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier and the Glacier Skywalk (mid-May departures onwards), continuing via Bow Lake to check in at the Fairmont Château Lake Louise.
Day 7overnight: Lake Louise
Exploring Lake Louise
A full day at leisure in Lake Louise, with options including the Lakefront Trail, the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail, canoe rentals or a gondola journey.
Day 8overnight: Banff
Through Yoho National Park to Banff
A free morning in Lake Louise, then a half-day transfer into Yoho National Park to see the Spiral Tunnels and Emerald Lake, continuing to Banff for a two-night stay. Note: departure from the Fairmont Château Lake Louise is around 2pm though standard checkout is 12pm; luggage is stored and hotel amenities remain available until departure.
Day 9overnight: Banff
Free day in picturesque Banff
A free day in Banff, with optional excursions including the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain, wildlife excursions, or the town's hot springs.
Day 10overnight: Kamloops
Aboard the pioneering First Passage to the West
A daylight Rocky Mountaineer journey to Kamloops through Banff National Park, past Morant's Curve, the Spiral Tunnels, Rogers Pass and Craigellachie's 'last spike' site, with an overnight stay in Kamloops.
Day 11overnight: Vancouver
Returning to Vancouver
The final Rocky Mountaineer leg through the Thompson and Fraser canyons and Hell's Gate, arriving back in Vancouver for your final night in Canada.
Day 12
Homeward bound
Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight back to London Heathrow.
Day 13
Landing in London
Your independent journey ends as you land at London Heathrow.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Board Rocky Mountaineer and travel the Sea to Sky Corridor with views of Howe Sound, Coast Mountains, Brandywine Falls and Mount Garibaldi, arriving in Whistler by afternoon.
Day 4Pass Mount Robson, known as the King of the Rockies at 12,972 feet, traveling through forests toward Jasper.
Day 6Journey along the Icefields Parkway, viewing Athabasca Falls and more than 100 glaciers; from mid-May onwards, ride an Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier and walk the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk; continue to Bow Lake and Lake Louise.
Day 8Travel through Yoho National Park viewing the Spiral Tunnels, designed in 1908, and Emerald Lake before arriving in Banff.
Day 10Reboard Rocky Mountaineer for the First Passage to the West route, passing Morant's Curve in Banff National Park, crossing the Continental Divide, traversing Rogers Pass and the Connaught Tunnel, and stopping at Craigellachie where the last spike was driven in 1885.

Included

11 nights in hotels on a Bed & Breakfast basis
4 days on board the Rocky Mountaineer train in GoldLeaf class
Return flights from London Heathrow to Vancouver
A visit to the Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Centre
Half day sightseeing tour of Jasper National Park
Icefields Parkway including a journey on an Ice Explorer onto the glacier and the Glacier Skywalk (only operates on departures from mid-May onwards)

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £8,760 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $11,833 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Which trains are included?: Great Rail Journeys includes four days aboard Rocky Mountaineer: the Rainforest to Gold Rush route (Days 2, 3 and 4 from Vancouver to Whistler, Pemberton to Quesnel, and Quesnel to Jasper) and the First Passage to the West route (Days 10 and 11 from Banff to Kamloops and Kamloops to Vancouver). All train travel is in Gold Leaf class.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: This is an independent tour. You make your own way during free days in Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. Some days include group excursions such as the Jasper National Park tour and the Icefields Parkway journey.
What are the hotels?: Hotels include the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver (2 nights), a 4-star property in Whistler (1 night), a 3-star hotel in Quesnel (1 night), Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (2 nights), Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (2 nights), and in Banff either the Moose Hotel & Suites or the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (2 nights), plus a hotel in Kamloops (1 night).
When does this tour run?: The tour runs May through September, with the Icefields Parkway excursion and Ice Explorer available from mid-May departures onwards.